Chase Gregory

Rolex 24 Results 2012

2012-02-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen the results yet for the 50th running of the famous Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway this past weekend, Ford took the top three spots in Daytona Prototype and Porsche took top three spots in the GT class.

Here are the top 3 results for DP and GT

For all results, click link here to Grand-AM.com

DP Class

1. Daytona Prototype; #60 Michael Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian; Ford Riley 761 laps

Drivers; Allmendinger, Negri, Pew, Wilson

2. Daytona Prototype; #8 Starworks Motorsport; Ford Riley 761 laps

Drivers; Dalziel, Luhr, McNish, Popow, Potolicchio

3. Daytona Prototype; #6 Michael Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian; Ford Riley 761 laps

Drivers; Goncalvez, McDowell, Nasr, Yacaman

GT Class

1. Grand Trismo; #44 Magnus Racing; Porsche GT3 727 laps

Drivers; Lall, Lietz, Potter, Rast

2. Grand Trismo; #67 TRG; Porsche GT3 727 laps

Drivers; Bertheau, Bleekemolen, Gossens, Henzler, Pumpelly

3. Grand Trismo; #59 Brumos Racing; Porsche GT3 726 laps

Drivers; Davis, Haywood, Keen, Lieb

source: Grand-AM.com

1959 BMW 600: A Dream

2012-01-27T21:23:00.001-08:00

Do you know how bad I want one of these?!?!

1959 BMW 600 Isetta:

582 CC Horizontally Opposed 2-Cylinder Engine
19 BHP at 4,500 RPM
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Drum Brakes
Independent Front and Rear Suspension with Coil Springs

Only thing....in this condition...$45,000-$55,000 for a 19bhp car.......?????

But still.....

I still would

The GT Line-Up Is Ready For Rolex 24

2012-01-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

Setting the fastest time in qualifying, Porsche pilot Andrew Davis (USA) secured pole position in the strongly-supported GT class at the Daytona 24 Hours. For the 50th anniversary of the long-distance classic in Florida/USA, he shares the cockpit of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup fielded by the winning Brumos Racing squad with Porsche works driver Marc Lieb (Germany) and American Hurley Haywood. With five overall wins and six class victories, Haywood is the most successful pilot in the history of this race. On board the car with the legendary starting number 59 is Leh Keen (USA) as the fourth driver.

“The Brumos team managed to get me out on the track before any of the others. With a field of 46 cars, this would normally be a huge advantage,” said Andrew Davis, who relegated Jeff Segal (USA) in the Ferrari to the second grid spot. “But my first lap wasn’t so good. I actually set the top time towards the end of the session. My Porsche was prepared perfectly.”

With the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup run by Magnus Racing, Andy Lally (USA) turned the third quickest lap. His teammates for the race are Porsche works driver Richard Lietz (Austria),John Potter (USA) as well as René Rast (Germany), the two-time champion of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Porsche factory pilot Patrick Long (USA), who shares driving duties with his works driver colleague Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) as well as Seth Neiman (USA) and Mike Rockenfeller (Switzerland) in Flying Lizard Racing’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, posted the fourth quickest time.

Result GT Qualifying

1. Andrew Davis (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:49.342 minutes

2. Jeff Segal (USA), Ferrari 458, + 0.015 seconds

3. Andy Lally (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.046

4. Patrick Long (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.208

5. Gianmaria Bruni (I), Ferrari 458, + 0.319

6. Wayne Nonnamaker (USA), Mazda RX-8, + 0.358

7. Marco Holzer (D), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, + 0.424

9. Martin Ragginger (A), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 0.549

10. Bryce Miller (USA), Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 0.702

source: 9Magazine

50th Running Of Rolex 24 At Daytona

2012-01-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

If this is the first time you will experience a 24 hour race, you will surely be excited the whole time you are there. To some, the Rolex 24 at Daytona is the most prestigious race all year. To others, a 24 hour party, full of fast cars, big trucks, beer and women. For me, its everything!

Looking for things to do while at the Rolex 24 hour race in Daytona Beach, Florida this weekend?

Live entertainment from Oriathi and Davy Knowles on Saturday and Sunday.

A carnival with a ferris wheel!

There is the seventh annual Chili Cook-Off from 3-6pm on Saturday where teams will be fighting for the first place prize.

You can explore the last 50 years of champions with cars from the last 50 years on display.

There is an autograph session just after 12pm on Saturday where all of the greatest drivers will be signing almost anything you want.

The Taste Of The 24 is also fun on Saturday night but is Sold Out!

But don't be so sad, there is a wine and cheese tasting on Saturday from 6-8pm.

I will be going around to hopefully everything this weekend and will be posting my adventures.

Come back next week to see my posts about the famous Rolex 24 at Daytona.

See you out there!

Ford Chooses Plastic For EcoBoost Engines

2012-01-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

Ford breaks the paradigm of having a big V8 in the truck. More power out of a smaller engine.

One way to make more power with a smaller block is to reduce the weight. And plastic is much lighter than metal.

Ford's EcoBoost engines have been the talk of the truck world from its reliability, its gas mileage, and towing capabilities. One of the things that Ford has emphasized their EcoBoost success from the industry of plastics.

Plastic components on the EcoBoost V6 engine include cam covers, engine covers, the vacum harness system, and other parts are all part of Fords plan to making a better engine in their number one truck.

Check out this video link below to see the Ford EcoBoost news.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid88243297001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAADrXnVo~,7yT41-olxHSzrcucODlh5rDf72cRjaw4&bclid=88241377001&bctid=1389451302001

Source: PlasticsNews.com

For more Ford EcoBoost Engines, click here

Driverless Cars: The Past, Present, And Near Future

2012-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

If you were traveling between Boston and Washington, DC, and had the choice of either flying or riding in a driverless car, which would you choose?

Under good conditions this is an 8.5-hour drive vs. 4-5 hours flying – driving to the airport, wading through security, boarding the flight, landing, and commuting to your destination when you arrive.

Keep in mind that the first wave of driverless vehicles will be luxury vehicles that allow you to kick back, listen to music, have a cup of coffee, stop wherever you need to along the way, stay productive with connections to the Internet, make phone calls, and even watch a movie or two, for roughly the same price.

If you think this vision is far off, think again. Over the next 10 years we will see the first wave of autonomous vehicles hit the roads, with some of the first inroads made with vehicles that deliver packages, groceries, and fast-mail envelopes.

Here are a few thoughts on how this industry will develop.

Driverless concept vehicle

The Complexities of Going Driverless

Over the past few nights we hosted a couple mastermind groups at the DaVinci Institute to discus how the rollout of driverless cars will begin to disrupt life, as we know it, both in the U.S. and around the world. I truly appreciate everyone’s input, as this is a complicated subject with multiple driving forces, each with a number of “human” variables that will either speed or slow the introduction of this technology.

But we all agreed, nothing will stop it

While the current technology is good enough to navigate roadways and recognize obstacles, it will need some refinement before it’s human-safe, and to push economic viability, the component costs will need to come down.

Driverless technology will initially require a driver, and it will creep into everyday use much as airbags did. First as an expensive option for luxury cars, but eventually it will become a safety feature required by the government.

The greatest benefits of this kind of automation won’t be realized until the driver’s hands are off the wheel. With over 2 million people are involved in car accidents every year in the U.S., it won’t take long for legislators to be convinced that driverless cars are a safer option.

The privilege of driving is about to be redefined.

Many aspects of going driverless are overwhelmingly positive, such as saving lives and giving additional years of mobility to an aging senior population. However, it will also be a very disruptive technology.

At the same time, it will be destroying countless jobs – truck drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, limo drivers, traffic cops, parking lot attendants, ambulance drivers, first responders, doctors, and nurses will all see their careers impacted.

But before we get into the “good vs. evil” technology debate, let’s look at why this will happen so quickly.

Inside the driverless Personal Rapid Transport vehicle at Heathrow Airport

The Roots of the Driverless Movement

The idea of self-driving cars is almost as old as the car itself. GM had visions of going driverless in its exhibit at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York.

In 1959, Walt Disney unveiled his driverless monorail at Disneyland, originally envisioned as a practical form of public transport for the future. However, the monorail came about during a time when America’s love affair with the automobile was growing, and even though he offered to pay for a monorail to ease the growing traffic congestion in Los Angeles, his technology never made it past the walls of the Disney’s theme parks.
In 2004 and 2005 DARPA sponsored the “Grand Challenge,” a competition to produce a driverless vehicle that could pilot itself 132 miles through the Nevada desert with no human intervention. The Stanford team won that competition in 2005 with their modified Volkswagen Touareg named “Stanley.”
Building on their success, in 2007 DARPA sponsored the next iteration, the “Urban Challenge,” which was won by the Carnegie Mellon team.
In 2008, John Deere introduced a steering assist option for their tractors, capable of turning, shifting gears and seeing through darkness and dust. The tractors were able to follow a row with sub-inch precision in the moonlight, raising and lowering the equipment to match the terrain, at the same time, saving thousands of hours and countless dollars in the process.
In 2008, Google launched their driverless car team. The group was headed up by Sebastian Thrun, the entrepreneurial Stanford professor who won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, and also co-creator of the Google’s Street View project. So far, their self-driving car fleet has already racked up over 200,000 driverless miles on highways. Google reports these cars have required intervention by a human co-pilot only about once every 1,000 miles and the goal is to reduce this rate to once in 1,000,000 miles.
In 2009, Heathrow Airport introduced their Personal Rapid Transport system consisting of 21 electric shuttles on a two-and-a-half mile pathway
In 2010 VisLab ran VIAC (VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge), a 13,000 km test run of autonomous vehicles. In this competition, 4 driverless electric vans successfully drove from Italy to China, arriving at the Shanghai Expo on October 28, 2010. This was the first intercontinental trip ever completed by an autonomous vehicle.
In 2010, Volkswagen sent a driverless Audi TTS to the top of Pike’s Peak at close to race speeds.
In 2011 the U.S. Military spent $4.8 billion on flying drones. This has been a rapidly growing budget item in the military’s arsenal. With this kind of focused spending, drone technology has improved dramatically over the past decade, but as a technology, the future for drones will go far beyond military uses.
In 2011, with Google lobbying in the background, the Nevada Legislature passed a law to authorize the use of autonomous vehicles, making it the first state where driverless vehicles can be legally operated on public roads.

These represent just a few of the advances, to date, that are driving this technology forward.

Mercedes concept vehicle

Stepping into Our Driverless Future

Recent advances in computing power and networking technologies are improving the viability of both the technology and economics on a daily basis. Today’s technology uses GPS to recognize where the cars are on the road. Cameras, lasers, and radar help them keep their distance from other cars and recognize objects like pedestrians. Superfast processors weave all the inputs together, allowing cars to react quickly.

Over time, data spidering systems, like those used by search engines, will be used to log details of every road in the country in real time, report potholes, cracks, or other dangerous conditions immediately when they occur, and build an information highway to serve as the backbone for our real highways.

Here are a few of the companies pushing this technology forward:

Mercedes is equipping its 2013 model S-Class cars with a system that can drive autonomously through city traffic at speeds up to 25 m.p.h.
Buyers of European luxury cars are already choosing from a menu of advanced options. For example, for $1,350, people who purchase BMW’s 535i xDrive sedan in the United States can opt for a “driver assistance package” that includes radar to detect vehicles in the car’s blind spot. For another $2,600, BMW will install “night vision with pedestrian detection,” which uses a forward-facing infrared camera to spot people in the road.
Many car companies including General Motors, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Volvo have begun early testing of driverless car systems.
General Motors has stated that they will have a driverless model ready for final testing by 2015, going on sale officially in 2018.

Several automakers already sell cars with adaptive cruise controls that automatically applies the brakes if traffic slows. BMW plans to extend that idea in its upcoming i3 series of electric cars, whose traffic-jam feature will let the car accelerate, decelerate, and steer by itself at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour—as long as the driver leaves a hand on the wheel.

According to New York’s ABI Research, the market for “advanced driver assistance” technologies was $10 billion in 2011, but will grow to a staggering $130 billion by 2016.

Driverless car network

Cars that Talk to Each Other

A major challenge for driverless roadways is for vehicles to safely and reliably communicate with one another. That’s where the Google operating system comes into play.

Hidden behind the hype of this technology is Google’s plan to come up with an Android-like operating system for all future driverless cars.

Regardless of whether its Google or someone else, creating communication standards and protocols will be the key to making this all work.

That requires getting all the automakers and regulatory agencies to agree on a standard. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun studying various technologies for vehicle-to-vehicle communication and plans to make a decision by 2013. They project intervehicle communications alone could reduce up to 80 percent of vehicle crashes involving non-impaired drivers.

LIT Motor’s new one-person commuter vehicle

Future Power Systems

People tend not to care about the power systems driving vehicles that they don’t own. As an example, few people pay attention to fuel efficiency of the airplane they’re flying in. They only care that they arrive on time.

This, combined with cost, range, and efficiency factors will mean that the first wave of driverless vehicles will likely be powered with old-fashioned gas engines.

However, electric vehicles using drive-by-wire technology will have many advantages over time. Rapid charging stations, silent engines, and the simple act of a vehicle recharging itself as opposed to the dangers of one that has to “refuel” itself will win over vehicle buyers in the future.

Many other power systems will be experimented with including everything from wireless power, to fuel cells, to natural gas, to biofuels. But in the end, fuel efficiency will prevail.

Google’s driverless car

The Promise of Going Driverless

According to the Center for Disease Control, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among the 5-34 age group in the U.S. More than 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments as the result of being injured in motor vehicle crashes last year.

The lifetime costs of crash-related deaths and injuries among drivers and passengers are over $70 billion annually.

Consider the following problems that would go away:

There were more than 5.5 million car accidents last year in the United States. Nearly 31,000 were fatal, and more than 2 million people were injured.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers.
At any given moment, 812,000 vehicles are being driven by someone using a handheld cell phone in the U.S.
An average of four children ages 14 and under are killed every day in auto accidents. Nearly 500 are injured daily.
While statistics continue to improve, 32 percent of fatal accidents involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

In addition to the known health and accident related issues, there is a tremendous amount of stress involved in driving.

People are not productive when they are driving and the frenetic atmosphere of high traffic situations leaves most commuters drained at the end of a day.

All of these problems will eventually go away.

Driverless taxi

The Downside of this Technology

At the same time, driverless cars will dramatically affect employment around the world.

Over time over 232,000 taxi and limo drivers in the U.S. will lose their jobs.
Over 647,000 bus drivers will be out of work.
Over 125,000 truck drivers will be looking for new careers.
Other jobs affected will include jobs at gas stations, parking lots, car washes, traffic cops, traffic courts, doctors, nurses, pizza delivery, mail delivery, FedEx and UPS jobs, as well as vehicle manufacturing positions.

In the future, the number of vehicles sold will begin to decline.

Inside a future car

Final Thoughts

The reason driverless cars will prove to be so disruptive for the automobile industry is that it will enable on-demand transportation services to replace the need for individual car ownership. Rather than having to conform to the route and timing of today’s mass transit systems, people will simply be able to request a vehicle through their smartphones whenever they need it, and a driverless vehicle will show up, on-demand, and take them to wherever they desire to go.

An on-demand transportation system will not significantly reduce the overall number of vehicles on the road at peak times, but will be better at matching the size of the vehicle with the number of people traveling. Since the vehicles will be in continuous operation, there will be significantly less need for parking spaces.

To be sure, this is a very complicated topic. Many other countries will be competing with the U.S. to become global leaders in this multi-pronged emerging industry.

With Google pushing the lobbying effort in Las Vegas, look for them to become the initial showcase for the world.

The military will likely find unusual uses in for these vehicles that have few civilian applications.

The coming years will see the public first embracing the technology and at the same time disdaining the tumultuous effects its having.

In the end, we will be driving towards a far safer and more resilient society, but we’ll be traveling down some very bumpy roads along the way.

Article by Thomas Frey, World Future Society

Bruno Senna Follows Uncle Ayrton Senna's Footsteps Signing With Williams F1

2012-01-23T06:27:00.000-08:00

2012 marks a new year for many drivers in Formula 1. The biggest news is the Williams F1 Team signing of Ayrton Senna's nephew, Bruno Senna.

"I am very proud to be Brazilian and more motivated than ever to demonstrate what I can do. Ever since I first sat in a go-kart I never wanted to do anything else," Senna stated

Team principal Frank Williams, who was in charge of Williams when Ayrton Senna died, said he was looking forward to seeing Bruno compete at the highest level.

The driver struggled with HRT in the team's debut season, then moved to Renault as a reserve driver before replacing Nick Heidfeld for the final eight races of 2011, but scored points in just one of his eight races as he finished ninth at the Italian Grand Prix.

"The circumstances of Bruno's two seasons in Formula One have not given him an ideal opportunity to deliver consistently so it was essential that we spent as much time with him as possible to understand and evaluate him as a driver," Frank said.

"We have done this both on track and in our simulator and he has proven quick, technically insightful and above all capable of learning and applying his learning quickly and consistently. Now we are looking forward to seeing that talent in our race car."

The Brazilian will partner Pastor Maldonado when the 2012 F1 season gets underway in Australia on March 18, replacing veteran compatriot Rubens Barrichello.

Barrichello said on his official Twitter account: "I won't be driving the Williams car this year. I wish my friend @BSenna all the best..the future is wide open."

Bruno's uncle Ayrton is one of the greatest drivers the sport has seen, winning drivers' championship crowns in 1988, 1990 and 1991 before he died in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. It was only his third race for Williams.

Williams' cars have carried his name ever since the tragedy at the Imola racing circuit, and Bruno, who made his debut for HRT in 2010, says he is excited to follow in his uncle's footsteps.

Source: CNN

Porsche's Top Articles 2011 From PCA

2012-01-09T05:50:00.001-08:00

Porsche Club of America reflects on the top articles accessed in 2011, here are 3 of my favorite of the top 10 Porsche articles of 2011.

Steve McQueen's 911 up for sale

A Porsche once owned by the "King of Cool," Steve McQueen, is being sold at auction this summer. The 1970 911 S is itself a veteran of the silver screen, having been featured in the opening sequence of McQueen's epic tribute to his love of automobiles and motorsports, "Le Mans." It was used as the actor's personal car during the filming of the movie in France while he was living in a rented 30-room 15th century chateau. The car is mentioned in book, Steve McQueen: The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon, in a passage where the star takes a Hollywood executive visiting the set on a 100 mph ride through the French countryside.

Boxster S Black Edition

Stuttgart. The Porsche Boxster model line has a new luxurious top model in addition to the sporty Boxster Spyder: The Boxster S Black Edition limited to 987 cars. With its 320 hp – ten hp more than the Boxster S – this edition offers a substantially larger range of standard equipment and exclusive special options, all at a very attractive price. The new mid-engined sports car is black all over: Black body, black hood, and black 19 inch Boxster Spyder wheels accentuate the muscular appearance of the top roadster. The Boxster S Black Edition will be launched in March 2011, and in Germany is priced at 63,404 euro including VAT and country-specific equipment.

Porsche Boxster E

While Porsche works on fine-tuning its electric engine, the company is also continuing to expand its hybrid vehicle lineup. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid will be available at dealerships later this year. The four-door hybrid vehicle is also quick, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 167 mph. This is obviously a hybrid vehicle designed for the typical Porsche driver. Porsche is awaiting the official EPA fuel efficiency estimates for the Panamera S Hybrid but the vehicle has achieved 7.1 L/100 km (approximately 33 mpg) fuel efficiency in European testing.

Super GT Toyota Prius Race Car

2011-12-22T12:55:00.000-08:00

Super GT is coming up on their 2012 season with some new entries that seem to be a big talk on the car sites. The big news is about Japanese car manufacture Toyota and their new attempt in the GT300 class with a Prius! A 300hp hybrid Prius!

Team APR is responsible for bringing the world famous hybrid to GT300 spec. The team last year ranked 6th and 14th overall with a pair of Corolla Axio GT's.

There is another race car in the mix that is awaiting the public finished product from Team JIMGAINER who is replacing their Ferrari GTC race car for a GT300-spec Honda CR-Z.

Pictures leaked out last fall of the CR-Z predicted style

source: jonsibal.com

Sears Goes Cordless For EV's With Evatran

2011-12-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

Virginia-based Evatran has been perfecting their Plugless Power electric vehicle charging system since the company was founded as a subsidiary of MTC Transformers in 2009. Now, with the recent announcement that it has reached an agreement with Sears to install the system in consumers' homes, it looks like the company is ready to take its induction charging system big time.

According to the agreement, Evatran will offer Plugless Power systems with home installation wrapped into the purchase price of the equipment; this price may also be included in the vehicle purchase or lease at the time of sale. Once a Plugless Power system is purchased, Sears will receive automatic notification of a customer's installation request and wil then contact the customer within one business day to schedule home installation. In addition, Sears will offer ongoing service and maintenance to Plugless Power owners.

The company said that the rollout and installations will begin in 2012 for Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt models. Pricing wasn’t released for the installation services, but the company noted that it would be based on the customer’s home and current electrical service.

Evatran technology is based on electromagnetic induction, a process by which voltage is created by a conductor moving through a magnetic field. It’s a familiar concept in the world of electricity. In fact, all electric motors are based around it but Evatran has tweaked it to work as a new EV charging technology. The company says the process is as simple as pulling up to a fixed charging station. From there, the vehicle charging begins automatically. There’s no cord and no plug to deal with, a convenience that Evatran thinks ”is needed for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.”

source: earthtechling.com

Gooding & Company Amelia Island March 9, 2012

2011-12-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

Gooding & Company is coming up in a few months with a few pieces of true heritage. On my birthday, the Omni Amelia Island Plantation will host a breath taking 1953 Fiat 8V Zagato ($750,000-$900,000), a beautiful 1956 Mercedes-Benz SL Gullwing ($700,00-$900,00), and a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 ($275,000-$350,00)

Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation
6800 First Coast Hwy
Amelia Island, FL 32034
(1 mile south of Amelia Island Parkway)

For more information on Gooding & Company

source:Vintage Motorsports

The Black Hole of Racing - SHAKEDOWN

2011-12-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

This is one of the best SHAKEDOWNs from FastLaneDaily.com with Leo Parente.

Racing is the subject and they really put together some great news in 6 minutes

GT3, GrandAm, La Mas, Daytona Prototypes, LMP cars, and a well put rant about manufactures.

Porsche Magic, A Fanatic 911 Rally Clip Show

2011-12-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

For every Porsche fanatic, a must see compilation of older 911 rally clips.

Looks like all European rally's were fun, no matter how slow you were.

Supercar Makers Chase Chinas Superrich Motorheads | Product Design and Development

2011-11-28T10:46:00.000-08:00

Supercar Makers Chase Chinas Superrich Motorheads | Product Design and Development

Ferrari Says Aluminum Like Others Say Carbon Fiber

2011-11-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

The latest and greatest cars are coming out with, if not completely made with, carbon fiber to reduce weight and keep the car strong. It has been used for quite a while now but sooner or later we will have to come up with something better....that's just what we as humans do. Something great comes out, and somebody made something better the day before.

But at Ferrari, aluminum has been used for the same applications going back to the 1940's. Enzo Ferrari had a steel-framed sports cars wrapped in aluminum bodywork, as well as the race cars. Then in the 80's, they started looking into other materials such as stainless steel, Kevlar, carbon fiber, and aluminum. Then the research had stopped in 1995 with the F50 and 2002 Enzo supercars which had chassis made from carbon fiber. They started using preimpregnated carbon fiber where the fiber cloth is soaked in a plastic resin before it is laid out into the shapes needed to make the car.

With a computer-aided design to engineer the structural integrity, Ferrari has been able to slim down the thickness of the sheet metal from 1.5mm to 0.9mm with potential to shave it down to .08mm. They started to utilize aluminum reinforced with ceramic fibers for a metal matrix composite that could cut the cars weight by 15-20%. They are predicting that the 458 could weigh as little as 2600lbs.

For more info click here on PopularMechanics.com

Chevy Corvette Daytona Prototype

2011-11-18T19:16:00.000-08:00

Chevy has come up with another means of getting attention. But in my opinion, I love it! A Daytona Prototype coming from a Corvette. This week was the delivery of the first car to team Spirit of Daytona. Other than Spirit, there are 4 other cars being built for teams Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing, and Action Express Racing.
Campbell joins Spirit of Daytona team owner Troy Flis, along with drivers Antonio Garcia and Oliver Gavin for the uncovering of the new tarmac eater.

One of the coolest things about this car is the resemblance to the actual production Corvette. The hood and lights look so great, and the rear end is almost identical to the street legal store bought style because of the famous tail lights. The Grand Sport fender vents also help distinguish the Vette among the rest of the competitors.

The Vette is a de-stroked engine (305ci) with an LS9 cylinder block, direct fuel injection, and revised cylinder heads that be the exact ones in the next production Corvette. This 5.0L beast with CNC-ported heads in this small-block under aluminum puts out 530hp at 7,000 rpm and 450lb-ft torque at 5,500 rpm.
.....530hp at 7,000 rpm sounds like they have their stuff together for the up coming 24hours of Daytona on January 26-29, 2012.

Autoweek.com has footage of it screaming around the bank turns of Daytona.
Start at 2:51
Autoweek.com Corvette Daytona Prototype Footage Here

Wind Powered eRuf Porsche At Haldenhof Revival

2011-11-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

Last month in Ludwigshafen, Germany, was the world known tarmac hill climb, Haldenhof Revival. All sorts of cars and drivers from around the world come to Ludwigshafen to see whos got the skills and balls of a tarmac hill climb.

Ruf made an appearance with their eRuf this year. There was a catch though, the all electric Porsche gets its power from a trailered wind turbine that stores wind power in a 20 foot long enclosed trailer. The four feet in diameter rotor can be raised up to ten meters to catch wind if needed. Its a mobile power station!

Ruf has been at the forefront of electric Porsche’s. In October 2008, RUF presented it’s electric automobile: the eRUF. In March 2009 presented another spectacular electric prototype at the Geneva motor show. This prototype was developed in cooperation with Siemens Corporate Technology. The power output is 270 kW (367 bhp) and offers phenomenal torque of over 900 Nm. Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h is 5 seconds, maximum speed is 250 km/h.

Now in the future I can see these charging stations in the back of cars....no trunks though. And have the rotor on top of the cars to always be charging the cars batteries. It's not gonna look good at first, but if there is a will, there is a way.

New race, New York, New Jersey…new romance for US and F1?

2011-10-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Formula 1 has been one of the most respectable sports known to man. Yet here in the states we have people in charge of Indy Car that, in my opinion, don't have the right skills to keep racing safe and entertaining. Everyone else is having a great time at places like SPA and Monaco, except for us. Well now the push for Formula 1 is coming state side!

Speed TV on Friday said it will interrupt its regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. Eastern to "bring audiences live coverage of a special announcement regarding the future of Formula One Grand Prix racing in the United States."The broadcast is expected to be the formal announcement of the previously rumored New Jersey F1 race that will take place in view of the Manhattan skyline, probably in 2013 and likely paired with the Montreal F1 race. The effort to bring the race ...

SPIED: 2014 BMW M3 F30 Show Up on the Nürburgring Track - Carscoop

2011-10-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Click the link to see the full report from carscoop's blog

SPIED: 2014 BMW M3 F30 Show Up on the Nürburgring Track - Carscoop

Jump Over A Lamborghini

2011-10-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

Someone had to do it.....

2011 Motorist Choice Award From AutoPacific and IntelliChoice

2011-10-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

We see cars every day, the ones we look at the most are the ones that keep our attention in many different ways. Weather its performance, style, purpose, or just something that you say "WOW!" at. And it's always fun to see what the public really wants, or what people are thinking about when they see manufactures leading the way. And to find this out, AutoPacific, who holds an annual "Motorist Choice Awards," with IntelliChoice, that had 15 different categories this year split between Popular brands, and Premium.
My favorite win for this year was the Porsche Panamera taking the "Head Turner" trophy in the Premium class. The Panamera was something that the public had mixed emotions on when Porsche came out with the fastest four door sedan on the road. Since it debut in 2009 at the Shanghai International Automobile Show, the perfectly equipped sedan has won the hearts of many, and now it is on the top of the list for dreamers along with tuners to make them snap your neck off from turning your head so much looking at it.

Another car that caught my attention is the Cadillac Escalade taking two awards home; the "High Tech" and "Performance" categories. With over 400hp and enough space to put 38 dead bodies in, you can get anywhere in a hurry, even off road with its AWD. It has been featured in major motion pictures, and is every soccer mom's dream to drive the groceries home in. I was just impressed it made the top pic for Performance and High Tech. It has been a flagship model for Cadillac and its saving grace next to the CTS, but why didn't people choose the CTS-V for the performance category?

The 2011 Motorist Choice Award Winners:

Category	Popular	Premium
Active Lifestyle	Dodge Ram HD	Land Rover LR4
Cargo Hauler	Ford Expedition EL	Volvo XC70
Cosmopolitan	Scion xD	Audi A3
Eco Friendly	Ford Fusion Hybrid	Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Fun to Drive	MINI Cooper	Volvo C30
Head Turner	Chevrolet Camaro	Porsche Panamera
High Tech	Volkswagen Touareg	Cadillac Escalade
Image	MINI Cooper	Mercedes-Benz GLK
Kid Friendly	Toyota Sienna	Volvo XC90
Luxury Lifestyle	Hyundai Genesis	Jaguar XJ
People Mover	Ford Expedition EL	Lincoln Navigator
Performance	Chevrolet Corvette	Cadillac Escalade
Road Trip	Ford Expedition	Mercedes-Benz GL
Value	Hyundai Elantra	Lexus HS
Youthful	Scion tC	Lexus IS

For more information: Click here for link

Senna, An F1 Documetary about Driver Aytron Senna

2011-09-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Senna is a documentary on Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the F1 world championship three times before his death at age 34 playing at our local Film Festival theater the Enzian. With director Asif Kapadia, writer Manish Pandey and staring Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Frank Williams I think this movie is going to be a great movie.

Autocross: The Fun Racing

2011-09-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

Autocross's are held around the world for driving enthusists to see what they are made of. This type of driving event is held typically in a large open parking lot away from other cars, light poles and curbs.
The course is drawn out on paper then brought to life with regular traffic cones to help act as corners and to help navigate through the course.

It is a timed competition where drivers drive through the course one at a time to avoid any dangers. They are typically cheaper to register than your real track events held at race tracks or road coarse's.
All you need is a great attitude and a love to drive. The only requirements is an approved helmet while driving. But gloves and skinny shoes help too.
These autocross's focus on the ability of the drivers instead of the cars. Skill is more important than horsepower here. Because there are very tight turns, and not many straight-aways, smaller two door vehicles are perfect for these types of racing.

The SCCA is one of the most famous car clubs that hold year round events with autocross courses for the public. Check out their site or ask your local car club to help organize an event.

I am planning a little trip down to the Orange County Convention Center this Saturday with the Florida Citrus Region for a fun day of autocrossing. Hope to see you there!!

Gernot Döllner to be future Head of Panamera model line

2011-09-28T04:48:00.000-07:00

Gernot Döllner to be future Head of Panamera model line

Michael Steiner takes over Total Vehicle Development from Rolf Frech

Stuttgart. Dr. Michael Steiner (47) will be taking over the Total Vehicle Department in the Development Division of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, on November 1. In this position he will be reporting to Board of Management Member for Research and Development, Wolfgang Hatz and takes over from Rolf Frech (54) who is moving to Bentley Motors where at the same time he will be taking over the Board of Management Development Division. Steiner began as Head of Innovation and Concepts at Porsche in 2002 before taking over responsibility for the Panamera model line in 2005. He is largely responsible for the success of the fourth model line.

Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Board of Management for Research and Development of Porsche AG said: “Rolf Frech spent 28 years at Porsche and in his last position as Head of Total Vehicle Development laid the foundation for the company's quest for growth. We thank him for his many years of service and his commitment.” Hatz mahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifde his satisfaction with the choice of successor plain: “In the person of Michael Steiner, we have been able to fill the position of Head of Total Vehicle Development with a proven in-house product expert who has Porsche in his DNA.”

Dr. Michael Steiner will be succeeded as Head of the Panamera model line on November 1 by Dr. Gernot Döllner (42). Döllner has worked at Porsche since 1998 and was Head of the Vehicle Concepts and Package Department for all Porsche models before becoming Head of Product Strategy at the beginning of this year. Dr. Stefan Weckbach (35) was appointed as his successor and therefore as new Head of Product Strategy. Weckbach has worked at Porsche since 2008 where his last position was as Head of the Board of Management office of Porsche AG. In their new positions Döllner and Weckbach will report to the CEO of Porsche AG, Matthias Müller.
www.porsche.de

Mercedes supercar built from 10,000 pieces of scrap metal

2011-09-21T04:29:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Supercar Recreated from 10,000 Pieces of Scrap Metal

Three German friends set out to recreate one of the most impressive cars ever made - Mercedes 300 SLR ‘Uhlenhaut Coupe’ – out of pieces of scrap metal. It’s not drivable, but their replica is definitely easy on the eyes.

Armin Ciesielski, Peter Brakel and Walter Willer, three friends working at a German company called Giganten aus Stahl (Giants of Steel), decided to pay homage to one of the greatest cars ever made, by making a life-size model out of metal. The three sculptors sourced thousands of pieces of metal for their recycled masterpiece anhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifd spent seven months cutting and putting it together. Although Ciesielski claims he could rebuild any car out of crap metal, he admits this particular project was a rather difficult one because of all the intricate details and the work that went into making even the car’s engine identical to the original.

Mercedes 300 SLR ‘Uhlenhaut Coupe’ had a top speed of 180 mph, and would have been the fastest car in the world if launched in 1955, Unfortunately, Mercedes decided it was too fast for the general public, and only two prototypes of the iconic supercar are still around today, both of which are at the Mercedes Museum, in Germany. Although this 10,000 scrap metal piece replica can’t be driven, its creators are hoping fans of the original will still take it off their hands for $100,000.
http://www.odditycentral.com/auto/mercedes-supercar-recreated-from-10000-pieces-of-scrap-metal.html

Thinking Of The Days At Sebring

2011-09-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Sebring International Raceway is one of the most famous road courses in the world. It holds the 12 Hours Of Sebring every year for LMP1 cars, GT cars, and Prototypes. Throughout the year though, the track is rented out by companies, clubs, and holds other races, and well, if you have never been, you are missing out on so much heritage in the racing world. Skip Barber even had a driving school that would train some of the best races today. I always like to take a trip down when Chinn Motorsports (a track day club) rents out the course for the weekend and lets you haul ass around its 3.7 mile track through 17 intense turns. With another track weekend or two under my suit, I should be going Solo. Then the real fun begins.

If you have done an event like this or this is your hobby to run your car as fast as you can around a track, post a comment of where you love to drive the most and why.

Create Your Dream Porsche

2011-09-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

Find specs, msrp, choose colors, interiors, and much more!!

Click Here To Design Your Dream Porsche

source: Porsche.com

Baltimore Grand Prix Is Here For Labor Day

2011-08-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

Baltimore has been a big supporter of high speed racing especially the last few years with races over 180mph through their very own city streets. There are to be about 150,000 people walking through the venue this up coming weekend. That's is expected to bring about $70million in revenue through the city's doors. Now that's not such a bad plan now is it?

Techart Updates The Cayenne With An Areo Kit; A Reason To Stand Out

2011-08-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

Techart was founded in 1987 by Thomas Behringer, with its headquarters located in Leonberg, German has been a great competitor in the tuning world over in Europe on mostly Porsche's. The company has just recently released a new Aero Kit for the Porsche Cayenne SUV.

The new package includes the familiar Techart chin spoiler with lighting packages with LED technology or halogen headlights, roof spoiler and the Techart rear apron with integrated diffuser and two subtle reflectors on the sides of the tailgate, taillight trims and dual tail pipes with embossed lettering connected to Techart’s sport exhaust system.

As for the wheels, there are Formula and Formula II light alloy wheels in dimensions of 20- to 23-inch or 22- and 23-inch as well as Formula III forged light alloy wheels in 21- and 22-inch available.

TechArt also offers performance upgrade packages for all engines. For the Turbo, there’s the TA 058/T1 performance kit which results in total output of 560 hp, a maximum torque of 780 Nm. That means 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 4.4 seconds.

During the IAA, TECHART will also present the world premiere of the TA 058/T2 performance kit for the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. The demand of TECHART customers for dynamic performance and driving pleasure is satisfied with a total output of over 440 kW (600 hp) and a maximum torque of more than 900 Nm.

For the interior, Techart offers complete leather interiors with matching decorative stitching, and a wide variety of entertainment options for the Cayenne such as Techart’s W2 entertainment package with two screens integrated in the headrests of the front seats. You may also folding individual seats at the back and a elegant center console unit, equipped with 12 V outlet, a spacious bar and storage compartment and covered with fine Alcantara.

This kit and the latest Techart Magnum will be unveiled to the public in Frankfurt.

Source: 9Magazine, and Techart.de

Porsche: Doppelkupplung, or PDK Transmission

2011-08-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

I am sure that by now with all the information on the internet that you have heard of a dual clutch transmission. BMW has one, Ferrari, Lamborghini, the list goes on with the supercars of the world. Porsche even has it in their Boxster and Boxster S to give the entry level drop top an edge over the competition. This is a great example of how shifting through 7 gears works. Click on the link below to watch this great explanation of how two clutches can work together for the fastest shifting money can buy.

Click here to watch the video

source: www.Porsche.com

Whittell Coupe -- a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Long Wheelbase 10.3 million

2011-08-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

http://wwwhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Gooding & Company's Monterey cover car glided onto the auction block Sunday night, its brushed aluminum roof a gleaming contrast to the deep black body panels and red undercarriage. Auctioneer Charlie Ross opened bidding for the Whittell Coupe -- a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Long Wheelbase car -- at $3m, and the price raced in $500k increments to $6m.

Ross then patiently coaxed the dollars along, ultimately hammering the car sold at $9.4m. That price ($10.34m with buyer's premium) was a spectacular climax to a stunning weekend of car auction results in Monterey.

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/

http://www.goodingco.com/car/1931-duesenberg-model-j-coupe

Gooding Result for 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa

2011-08-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

Gooding's Pebble Beach auction opened with a bang this evening, sehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giflling the highly anticipated 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa racer for a new world record price of $16,390,000 (hammer price: $14,900,000).

Chassis number 0666 TR was the very first Testa Rossa built. It featured known continuous ownership history from new, raced under the Scuderia Ferrari colors in period, and was given Ferrari Classiche certification in 2008.

Bidding started at $10m and quickly passed the $13m mark to resounding applause in the room. The final $16.39m total bested the previous all-time high seller -- another '57 Ferrari 250 TR -- which sold for $12,402,500 at RM's Maranello auction in May 2009.
http://www.sportscarmarket.com/

1970 Porsche 911S owned by Steve McQueen

2011-08-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

The much-anticipated 1970 Porsche 911S owned by Steve McQueen -- and his ride during the opening minutes of the classic car film "Le Mans" -- raced to a stunning $1,250,000 hammer price at RM's Friday night Monterey auction, proving that the McQueen Cool factor remains stronger than ever.

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/

http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r105

BMW i3 Sneak Peak in Chicago

2011-08-20T07:00:00.001-07:00

2014 is going to be an eye opener for people in the city world for electric cars and the technology they capture. With BMW always at the head of the pack, this i3 will be available to use in 2014. We saw an idea of an i8 but this was a video captured by a car fanatic realizing he must get this on film before anyone else does. The i3 is supposed to get about 80-100 miles on a single charge! That's perfect for living just outside the dense city, to come into town, and still have charge to go home. It is also said to have 170hp! And can reach 0-60 in 7.9seconds! For an EV, that's impressive when only spending $35,000 on a BMW. And what about charging in a hurry? BMW has said that you can do a quick charge setting and charge up to 80% of power in under an hour!
Plus the style is pretty sleek too. Carbon fiber and aluminum trim and structure make this EV lightweight and yet strong to handle any sort of unexpected impact. Look for this at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year.

source: http://inhabitat.com/the-2014-bmw-i3-electric-car-is-spotted-in-chicago/

Plastics News - BMW creating new highs for carbon fiber

2011-08-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

Plastics News - BMW creating new highs for carbon fiber

Plastics News - Booming Brazil not cheap, easy market

2011-08-17T05:08:00.000-07:00

Plastics News - Booming Brazil not cheap, easy market

CTS-V Wagon Top Speed Run at El Mirage, Vette vs CTS-V Drag

2011-08-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

I think I have found my new future car. And it is the CTS-V Wagon from Cadillac. I have posted about this car but Matt Farah at "Smoking Tire" does a great job with this video and putting it to almost max speed.
As I have posted about my fience's Audi A3, I love to drive that thing. The simplicity of it, the lightness, and the spooling turbo makes me smile, plus I have always love sporty wagons. But now there is a luxury wagon that pulls more G's than a Porsche GT3.....it seems like my all inclusive vehicle. Its a daily driver, its a track car, its "put the dogs in the back and hit the beach" car. And it has over 550hp?! I could get use to a supercharged 6.2litre engine real quick. I mean over 23 cubic feet of room to store stuff in the back safely, then you can fold down the back seats for over 30 cubic feet of fun back there.
0-60mph is just over 4 seconds and more importantly, 70-0mph is 155feet with those 6 piston front calipers!! Brembo is holding strong in the luxury market right now.
And as I have posted the Black Diamond Edition, I have been looking forward to drive this in the near future. I don't need the Diamond Edition, but just showing what a little bit of touch to a sports car wagon can really do for the brand.
Like Matt from SmokingTire.com says in the video "It's like Cadillac giving people like me an apology for the entire 1990's"
That sounds like something we should appreciate from Cadillac.

DC SHOES: KEN BLOCK'S GYMKHANA FOUR; THE HOLLYWOOD MEGAMERCIAL

2011-08-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Wow....

A Great Event: Spectre 341 Challenge 2011 Part 1

2011-08-15T05:51:00.000-07:00

This event is something totally different for us here in the States. New cars, old cars, AWD cars, slow cars, fast cars. 22 turns, uphill, under 4 minutes, now that's something for your adrenaline to be excited about.
The scary part...no guardrails or tire walls to cushion the crash. If you drive off the cliff, that may be the end of it. Of course this is all monitored by local and state police, as well as fire rescue and EMT's. But this is an event I would love to check out next time it comes around.

Jörg Kerner appointed as new director of power train development at Porsche

2011-08-15T04:53:00.000-07:00

Stuttgart. With effect from October 2011, Jörg Kerner will be heading up the pohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifwer train development division for Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart at the Weissach Development Centre. The 41-year-old succeeds Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, who at the same time takes charge of power train development at the Volkswagen brand.

Jörg Kerner worked for Robert Bosch GmbH from 1986 to 2004 where his responsibilities included various Audi projects in the petrol engine control and application area. The engineering graduate joined Audi AG in 2004, where Jörg Kerner built up the engine and transmission electronics design, software and functional development division, managing it until 2009. The engine developer subsequently took over the power train electrification division at Audi.
http://www.porsche.com/germany/

Ferrari Plant Tour by Design Boom

2011-08-15T04:35:00.001-07:00

founded in 1929 as a racecar sponsor and manufacturer, ferrari has been producing hand-finished road vehicles since 1947.
the ferrari factory was designed by french architect jean nouvel and modernized beginning in 1997 by company president
luca di montezemolo. all ferraris in the world continue to be produced exclusively on the maranello campus,
where every ferrari is produced custom to order, and all installations are performed by hand. as a result, the company
produces approximately 10 to 12 cars a day.

designboom visited the ferrari factories and is excited to bring you a three-part behind-the-scenes look at the vehicles' production.
this article looks at the 'nuova meccanica' ('mechanical workshop') building, where engine components are produced.

the 'nuova meccanica' ('mechanical workshop') is the site of construction for the machining and finishing of headshafts, cranks,
and other engine parts. designed by marco visconti, the 15,000 square-meter building was opened in 2001 and contains 15 work areas
and about 100 different machines. all conditions in the building are carefully regulated, including the temperature and humidity levels
during winter and summer respectively, as well as the maximum noise level, which thanks to efficient soundproofing never exceeds 73 decibels.

ferrari vehicles are assembled and completed by hand, but in recent years the company has integrated automationhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
and robotics into certain elements of the production process. at the 'nuova meccanica', robots work in conjunction
with one another and with human technicians to produce parts, temper cylinder heads (with liquid nitrogen),
and complete other machining. once all engine parts are produced and refined, they travel to the nearby
engine assembly facility before ultimately moving on to the 'new assembly line' to be installed into a custom vehicle.

For more photos and more details: http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/15893/ferrari-factory-tour-mechanical-workshop.html

2012 BMW 1-Series Wagon

2011-08-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

I love Spy Shots because it shows the progress of an automobile before progress is seen to the public eye. Or maybe it's because we can talk about something that nobody else knows and it makes us feel important. But doesn't driving a brand new car, or the first one in the showroom, and off the lot when not a single person has seen it on the road yet make you feel really cool inside? Well BMW wanted to give someone on a different driving level that satisfaction now by coming out with a 1-Series Wagon.

My fience last year wanted a wagon to tote the puppies around and our future son so I found an Audi A3 6-speed manual transmission because that is what she wanted. But when I showed her what this was, she said "I want one of those!!"
The style is there, the practicality is there, and with just under 200hp out of a 1.6liter engine, this little thing should pack a quick punch.
This second gen 1-series is almost 3 inches wider, 1 inch taller, just over 3 inches longer than the first gen and still rear wheel drive!
This is some steep competition between Audi, Acura, Cadillac and Mercedes for the Best Avant. I am really excited to go drive one from BMW now!

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

2011-08-02T04:47:00.000-07:00

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Most successful race car now suitable for wider range of motorsport

Stuttgart. It is the most successful race car on earth: The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. With over 2,200 units sold, it is the undisputed number one amongst customer racing teams all over the world. Now, the new 911 GT3 Cup features a 100-litre FT3 safety fuel tank, which is filled via an opening in the front bonnet. Compared to its predecessor, the vehicle is now suitable for an even wider range of endurance racing. Moreover, the new fuel tank contributes to a further improvement of the high safety standards.

The 2012-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS (997) street sports car. The power unit is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. A race exhaust system with a controlled catalytic converter keeps emissions to a minimum.

The flared wheel arches at the front axle accommodate light alloy rims measuring 9.5Jx18 with 25/64-18 Michelin race tyres. The light alloy rims at the rear measure 12Jx18 with 30/68-18 tyres. Depending on the type of racing, the new 911 GT3 Cup features different rim specifications. The blade-type anti-roll bars at the front and rear are adjustable in seven positions allowing an extremely precise set-up for each race track. Exclusive to the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup which runs as support to Formula 1 is the PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake. This is also available for Porsche’s road models. Compared to the composite cast brakes in the Carrera Cups and the GT3 Cup Challenges, PCCB reduces the weight of the car by around 20 kilograms.
The cockpit of the new 911 GT3 Cup caters for the needs of the driver. The controls for the info display are positioned on the steering wheel which houses six switches. As in the production car, the reach and height of the steering wheel can be adjusted.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will be delivered to teams around the world from September and will be run in this specification for the 2012 and 2013 race seasons in selected one-make cup series. The price is 161,750 Euro plus value-added tax of the respective countries.

Currently, the 911 GT3 Cup competes in 19 Porsche brand trophy series worldwide. Moreover, it is run in various GT race series and at long distance events. The 911 GT3 Cup is the basis model of Porsche’s racing vehicle range. Additionally, Porsche Motorsport offers the 911 GT3 R for championships complying with GT3 regulations and the 911 GT3 RSR built according to GT2 rules.

http://www.porsche.com/germany/

Plastics, carbon fiber in focus as BMW premiers electric concept vehicle

2011-08-02T04:38:00.000-07:00

By PlasticsToday Staff
Published: July 31st, 2011

Acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h (37 mph) in under four seconds and from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than eight seconds is pretty impressive even for a gasoline-powered vehicle but this performance is delivered from an electric vehicle: the BMW i3 just announced by the German luxury car maker.

Production of the i3 is scheduled to commence in Leipzig in 2013. In 2014, BMW (Munich) will launch a second EV dubbed the i8.

The i3 incorporates numerous design innovations, with many of them realized through the use of plastics and carbon fiber composites. According to BMW, "Innovative use of materials and intelligent lightweight design not only enable the i3 Concept to travel long distances on a single charge and provide superb safety in the event of a collision: they also help give the car its excellent driving dynamics."

The so-called Life module of the car conjures up a feeling of space inside the car more generous than even the latest conversion vehicles can offer,claims the OEM. Select materials lend the open and airy cabin a lounge-like character. The use of renewable raw materials is another defining characteristic of the interior, offering passengers a further means of "experiencing" the sustainability of the vehicle. Parts of the instrument panel and door paneling are visibly made from natural fibers.

The four-seater opts for wide-opening opposing "coach" doors, boasts a boot capacity of around 200 liters and has an additional functional compartment in the front. Large glass surfaces and black elements like the window surrounds and door sills are said to give the vehicle a feeling of lightness and, together with the exposed carbon structures, draw attention to its low weight.

The front end of the BMW i3 Concept, meanwhile, has a very clear and uncluttered design. The dominant element here is the molded kidney grille which has the hallmark BMW i blue background and - thanks to the car's all-electric drive system - is totally blanked off. Below the kidney grille the silver-colored layer lends the sculptural front apron its form. Black surfaces identify the functional areas of the front end, such as the load compartment under the hood and the air inlets.

The large, retractable rear window offers optimum access to the luggage compartment, and the roof pillars stand upright to create as much space as possible in the interior. The rear window is also home to the tail lights, which are U-shaped (like the headlights) and appear to be floating in the glass.

The wide, silver-colored rear diffuser marks the body's lowest edge and allows the driver to experience the car's efficient aerodynamics. Bordered by a blue layer, the diffuser tapers heavily towards the road and appears to continue underneath the car. The form of the diffuser underlines the car's powerful stance.

The electric motor is positioned over the rear axle while in order to ensure the greatest possible electric range, the battery in the BMW i3 Concept is correspondingly large. The most space-efficient location to store the battery cells was in the car's underfloor section, where they occupy the whole of the module's central section, giving the car good weight distribution and a low center of gravity. The battery is penned in by aluminum profiles, which protect it from external impacts. Crash-active structures in front and behind it provide the necessary energy absorption in the event of a front- or rear-end collision.

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers (Moses Lake, WA), a joint venture of BMW and SGL Carbon (Bonn, Germany), will manufacture carbon fiber for use in the i3. The fiber will be processed into lightweight carbon fiber fabrics at the second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany, and then used in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts and components made at the BMW plant in Landshut, Germany.

The Moses Lake carbon fiber plant covers 60 acres of land with the option to purchase additional land to cater to future growth. The plant will initially run two carbon fiber lines, each with an annual capacity of 1,500 metric tons. The first carbon fiber line was due to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2011.

To guarantee supply of carbon fiber, Skion GmbH, a company owned by BMW's heiress Susanne Klatten, recently increased its stake in SGL Carbon to 29%. Skion now holds 1% less of SGL's stock that according to German law would require Skion to make an offer for SG and also protects the company from corporate raiders. Volkswagen is also a notable stakeholder in SGL Carbon, at last count holding an 8.18% stake.

*It's "Bimmer" and not "Beemer." Check this link to find out why.
http://www.plasticstoday.com/articles/bmw-premiers-electric-concept-vehicle-20110801a

Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, at Laguna Seca

2011-07-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

You have to agree that Porsche has heritage down to a tee. From Sunday drives, to Saturday races, to taking the kids to school, to the hard core collectors, even to museums around the world.
Between the 14th and 16th of October Porsche will be holding the fourth annual Rennsport Reunion at Mazda's famous Laguna Seca Raceway in California. The venue will support an authentic German biergarten as well as German food and a park atmosphere feel to it so they can step aside from the on track excitement and heat and have a full experience of the Porsche heritage.
CARS movie star Sally Carrera, the voice behind the Porsche in the movie, will be there for the kids to take photographs. There will also be activities from the Porsche Driving School to keep the adults out of trouble and hopefully getting people to sign up for their fantastic school, which I am planning to go to next year. Many more things like generations of Porsche racecars will be on display in the Paddock.
The planners of the event wanted to show the progression of the Porsche 911 model. So the club has assembled one car from each year, starting in 1965, when the 911 first appeared in theU.S., until today’s 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
I wish I could attend this amazing event and I hope that everyone that can go really takes everything in and see everything that Porsche has to offer.

First Fisker Karma EV Delivered to KP’s Ray Lane

2011-07-27T09:50:00.001-07:00

First Fisker Karma EV Delivered to KP’s Ray Lane

Another $100,000 electric vehicle
First Fisker Karma EV Delivered to KP’s Ray Lane

What do KPCB partner Ray Lane, ex-VP Al Gore, General Colin Powell, and movie idol Leonard DiCaprio have in common?

For one, they're first in line to take ownership of the initial production Fisker luxury EVs. (Lane and Gore are confirmed; Powell and DiCaprio are the likely next on the list, although it was difficult to confirm that info. Brook Byers, another KP partner, is also on the early list of Fisker recipients.)

After a number of delays in production, the first production model Fisker Karma EV was delivered to Kleiner Perkins Partner Ray Lane at KPCB HQ In Menlo Park this afternoon. Lane serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fisker Automotive, as well as of Hewlett-Packard.

Lane briefed the assembled press corps. Both he and the vehicle had that new car smell.

The Fisker Karma is an extended-range luxury electric vehicle that seats four. The car is powered by twin 201-horsepower electric motors and can provide a range of 300 miles and a top speed of 125 miles per hour, although you might not get both of those things at the same time.

The car is a series hybrid, in that sense, similar to the Chevy Volt made by GM (NYSE:GM). It has a lithium-ion battery pack (with battery cells from A123 Systems) that powers the car. The Karma also comes with a gas generator to recharge the batteries when they get down to a 20 percent state-of-charge. The gas engine helps give the Fisker and Volt a longer range than pure electrics like the Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Roadster or Nissan Leaf.

The vehicle is designed by Henrik Fisker, the hand behind the sleek Aston Martin DB9 and BMW Z8.

With pioneering EV maker Tesla at a $2.7 billion market cap and a strong market reception for the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt, other EV aspirants and investors are eyeing electric vehicles as a growth market.

Earlier this year, Fisker raised $150 million in new VC funding. Here's a link to the most current SEC Form D Filing. Investors in Fisker include new investor New Enterprise Associates and existing investors like Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, A123 Systems Inc., Ace Investments, Palo Alto Investors, Qatar Investment Authority, Advanced Equities, and Quantum Fuel Systems. The startup has raised more than $500 million in venture capital. Last January, Fisker raised $115 million to secure a $537 million loan from the DOE.

VentureWire reports that the February round was done at a $600 million pre-money valuation.

Both the Karma and Chevy Volt qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The Karma will cost around $95,000 for a base model, up from earlier estimates of $80,000. The Nina, a mid-range sedan, is slated for 2012 and will cost around $40,000. Tesla's sedan is due in 2012, as well.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I spoke with KP partner Trae Vassallo, who helped source the deal from a meeting at an industry EV panel. She emphasized that the Fisker Karma was meant to be a "no-compromise" vehicle with the unique drivetrain being transparent to the driver. The cars will be sold through a network of 45 existing luxury car dealerships. Cars are being built in Finland to start and production will eventually move to factory in Delaware.

Schedule your test drive now.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/first-fisker-karma-ev-delivered-to-ray-lane-at-kp/

Ferrari World Design Contest 2011

2011-07-27T05:15:00.000-07:00

Ferrari World Design Contest 2011

Racing Relies on Bump Stop Ratings

2011-07-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

Racing Relies on Bump Stop Ratings

Gooding Expects to Break the All-time World Auction Record in Pebble Beach with the Legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype

2011-07-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

Gooding + Company Expects to Break the All-time World Auction Record in Pebble Beach with the Legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype
The leading auction house consigns two iconic sports racing stars for its Pebble Beach Auctions: the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype and the 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 20, 2011) – Gooding + Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is delighted to announce that two legendary sports racing stars, the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype and the 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car, will be presented at auction for the first time in history at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Auctions on August 20 & 21. Since its inception, the Pebble Beach Auction has welcomed significant and rare cars and now with these exciting additions, the star-studded 2011 Pebble Beach Auctions will once again be the world’s premier stage for the collector car market.

"Being in the presence of the 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa Prototype is a visceraland breathtaking experience unlike anything I’ve ever known," says David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding + Company. "We will all witness a historic day when this incredible car – one of the greatest race cars of all time – crosses our stage in Pebble Beach this August."

While it exists in a class of its own, the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype joins an elite list of extraordinary competition Ferraris that have crossed the block at Gooding + Company’s auctions, including the record-breaking 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider that sold for $7.26 Million and the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod that sold for $6.105 Million last year.

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/news/4692-gooding-to-offer-250-testa-rossa-prototype-at-pebble-beach

Porsche honours its ten best suppliers

2011-07-25T04:16:00.000-07:00

Stuttgart/Leipzig. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, honoured last year’s tenbest suppliers at the Porsche works in Leipzig. First prize went to Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. from Lippstadt, which manufactures innovative headlight systems for the sports car manufacturer. Uwe-Karsten Städter, since April head of the newly created procurement position on the Porsche AG Board of Management said: “Recent months have been characterised first and foremost by an unexpectedly rapid recovery in the world economy as well as the tragic events in Japan. That the consequences for Porsche have been kept to a minimum is also attributable to the particular efforts of the suppliers.”

To cope with future challenges, Städter called on suppliers to make their company financially weather proof and to continue to bring their expertise and innovation to bear in helping to ensure that Porsche continues to be capable of providing quality and delivery reliability of the highest order. In international studies, the sports car brand constantly excels in terms of its outstanding quality.
Public Relations and Media
Corporate Press
Dirk Erat
Phone: +49 (0) 711 / 911 27941
E-Mail: Dirk.Erat@porsche.de

The Zuffenhausen company wants to emulate these successes with the new generation of the legendary 911 as well. Supplier partners, responsible for approximately 80 percent of the value creation, have an important role to play in ensuring quality. “I want to see the new 911 as well right up there in the J.D. Power quality rankings from the very first year”, said Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG. “And I am convinced that, together, we will do it.”

In addition to Hella KGaA Hueck & Co, Porsche honoured a further nine suppliers with the Porsche Supplier Award 2011 in recognition of their top-notch performance.

In the production material category, they were: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Takane, Fujii-cho, Anjo City, Aichi, Japan, Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH, Paderborn, Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG, Neunkirchen, GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH, Offenbach, Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior S.R.O., Levallois, France, Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach and Willi Elbe Gelenkwellen GmbH & Co. KG, Tamm. Companies honoured in the non-production material category were: Witron Logistik + Informatik GmbH, Parkstein. The prize in the logistic services category was awarded to: BLG Automobile Logistics GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen.

Subaru Driver David Higgins Wins 2011 Rally America National Championship

2011-07-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Subaru of America Inc.'s Subaru Rally Team USA driver David Higgins has won the 2011 Rally America National Championship. The 2011 driver’s title is the third for Higgins in the USA having won the SCCA ProRally Championship in 2002 and 2003. Higgins also won the British Rally Championship in 2004.

Higgins joined Subaru Rally Team USA at the start of the 2011 season, replacing longtime Subaru team driver Travis Pastrana who had earned the Rally America National Championship from 2006 through 2009. A season-long rivalry quickly ensued between Higgins and Canadian rally ace Antoine L’Estage—the defending Rally America Champion and Canadian Rally Champion. Higgins and L’Estage were at each other’s heels at every rally with the rivalry coming to a dramatic head last month at the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally, where Higgins came from behind late in the event to beat L’Estage by 1.3 seconds.

The victory last month in Pennsylvania earned Higgins enough of a points lead over L’Estage that Higgins only needed to finish fourth or better at the New England Forest Rally this past weekend to secure the driver’s title. A tactical fighttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifht ensued in New England with Higgins maintaining a 2nd overall position behind L’Estage while driving just fast enough to keep the chasing pack comfortably behind him.

In addition to three event victories and the driver’s title in the Rally America series, Higgins recently won the reborn Mt. Washington ‘Climb to the Clouds’ Hillclimb. He smashed the course record by more than 30 seconds, driving the same Subaru STI he utilized in the Rally America Championship. Higgins has little time to celebrate; earlier this month he was invited to compete at ESPN Summer X Games 17 in Los Angeles. He will compete in both the Rally Car Racing and RallyCross competitions taking place on July 30–31.
http://www.sema.org/sema-enews/2011/29/racing-news

Photo of the Day: Toyotas Crash Test | Product Design and Development

2011-07-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day: Toyotas Crash Test | Product Design and Development

Jaguar Ponders Return To Le Mans Prototype Racing

2011-07-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

According to a report from Autoweek's website, Jaguar is mulling a return to Le Mans prototype racing, but not likely if at all before 2014, when new rules will be in effect. This would be Jag's first bid to win the 24-hour tilt in more than 20 years.

The luxury/sports car manufacturer's owner, Ratan Tata, is known to be a fan of Le Mans and made multiple references to Jaguar's seven Le Mans overall wins when he purchased Jaguar from Ford Motor Co. in 2008.

Jaguar thereafter returned to Le Mans in 2010 via Paul Gentilozzi's RSR team, which currently races its XKR GTE in the American Le Mans series.

The proponents of that program, former m.d. Mike O'Driscoll and global marketing boss C.J. O'Donnell, have both since exited Jaguar. Autoweek reported that new Tata Motors CEO Carl-Peter Forster, who formerly worked for BMW and GM in Europe, supports the revival of a Jaguar LMP1 program.

Autoweek also reported that Wirth Engineering, whose unseen coupe LMP1 design has been moribund since Acura exited the ALMS series after 2009 with the Highcroft Racing team, has had discussions with Jaguar. Wirth, per AW, denied any talks.

1964 Townsend MK 4 Return to Laguna SECA for 1st time in 40 years

2011-07-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

1964 Townsend MK 4 Returns To Laguna Seca For 1st Time in 40 Years

Arivaca, AZ --T2V Racing and Restoration will make the race debut of its fully restored vintage racer, the 1964 mid-engined Townsend Typhoon MK 4 at the 2011 Rolehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifx Monterey Motorsports Reunion. T2V's flagship 1957 Townsend Typhoon MK 2 dubbed "Purple People Eater," will be sitting this year out to make way for the MK 4, the last of the Townsend historic racers.

T2V founder Owen Gibson commented on the inclusion saying, "It's a mark of distinction to be accepted into the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. I debuted my fully restored 1957 Townsend Typhoon MK 2 here in 2006; to have the honor of debuting the last of the Townsend Typhoons alongside the original driver and crew, on the same track, fulfills a dream of mine. Most people know me for my purple car. Now they will find me in the 5A racing class with my silver 4th place USRRC ground-pounder."

Gill Campbell, CEO/g.m. of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca said, "What a pleasure to see another American Special fully restored and back in the vintage race world. Owen has done a fantastic job on the Townsend Typhoon MK 4 restoration. It is extremely important to us and the fellow competitors that the integrity of the caliber of cars is maintained in this prestigious event. Owen's efforts, time and energy taken to ensure that the car is period-correct are very much appreciated. The Townsend Typhoon is deeply rooted with the race history of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and we're proud to host its post-restoration race debut."

Gibson is twice blessed. Not only did he discover the 1957 Townsend Typhoon MK 2 in 2000, a car he reintroduced to the world at the 2006 Monterey Historics, he recently uncovered this wildest of all Townsend creations, the 1964 mid-engined MK 4. This makes Gibson the restorer of Frank Townsend's first and last American road racing specials, a
distinction he relishes. Once the MK 2 "Purple People Eater" restoration was underway, Gibson began to receive leads regarding the missing mid-engined MK 4 car. After four years of dead ends, Gibson finally found the MK 4 in a Wyoming barn, painted orange, tires rotting off and covered in hay. Gibson has proudly restored the last of the Townsend Typhoons to its "as raced" specifications with the original crew at his side.

Gibson invites everyone attending the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to celebrate with T2V as the MK 4 "1 Cent Car" takes to the track for the first time in 40 years. Gibson will be racing the 1964 Townsend Typhoon MK 4 in Group 5A - 1960-1968 Sports Racing USRRC Cars the race schedule is as follows:

Thursday, August 18, morning practice

Friday, August 19, morning practicehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Saturday, August 20, 3:10pm -- Race Group 5A

The full race schedule can be found at:

http://www.mazdaraceway.com/pages/sched-reunion

For Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion tickets and information please

visit www.MazdaRaceway.com or call 800-327-7322.

Ex-McQueen 1971 Porsche 911S set for Monterey auction

2011-07-14T04:44:00.000-07:00

Ex-McQueen cars set for Monterey auction

The 1970 Porsche 911S delivered new to McQueen on the set of 1971’s iconic motorsports movie Le Mans. It is the actual car shown being driven by McQueen for the first three minutes and 40 seconds of the movie. Featuring the highest available specification offered by Porsche for street models at the time, it has only four owners from new and is in highly original, preserved condition. It is well documented with invoices and correspondence corroborating absolute authenticity.
http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r105

Reinforced Plastics - BMW M3 CRT debuts carbon fibre technology

2011-07-13T05:10:00.000-07:00

Reinforced Plastics - BMW M3 CRT debuts carbon fibre technology

PCA-Main prize awakes new passion 911 T Coupe US version (1973): Fully restored classic awaits new owner

2011-07-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

Stuttgart/Savannah. Thanks to the “Revive the Passion” project, a US version 911 T Coupe from the year 1973 is one of the main attractions at this year’s Porsche Parade organized by the Porsche Club of America (PCA). As part of the festival week for all Porsche enthusiasts in Savannah, Georgia, from July 31 to August 7, the fully restored classic will be raffled off among PCA members and handed over to its new owner. The outstanding feature of this project is the fact that all fans and enthusiasts of Porsche classic vehicles were able to follow the restoration of the vehicle on the Internet (www.porsche.com/classic).

The winner can look forward to becoming the proud owner of a collector’s item of great value. This is because the 911 T has been restored to its former glory by the experts at Porsche Classic in its home city of Stuttgart, where it was originally produced for the US market. “Made in Germany” for the second time - after 38 years.

The idea for “Revive the Passion” was born during the “Rennsport Reunion” in Daytona in 2007. During a conversation, representatives of the PCA, Porsche Club Service and Porsche Classic took the decision to offer an attractive Porsche classic car instead of a new vehicle in the traditional PCA raffle. A suitable car was found near Los Angeles and was subsequently presented to club members at the Porsche Parade 2010 in St. Charles, Illinois, in its then rather pitiful condition. The 911 T then went on a journey to Stuttgart, where the experts at Porsche took care of the vehicle.

The US version 911 T Coupe originates from the last year of production of the so-called F model. It features an air-cooled flat-six engine with a displacement of 2.4 liters and a power output of 103 kW (140 hp) at 5,600 rpm. Its top speed is 127 mph (205 km/h). This Porsche is characterized by its narrow body and is finished in the classic color combination Silver Metallic (exterior) and Black (interior). Paul Gregor from the Porsche Club Service: “The body form, color combination and year of production make this vehicle especially popular among collectors and ensure good value retention.”

However, there was not much of this to be seen before the start of restoration. The specialists in the Porsche Classic workshop received a vehicle without headlights or windows. The paint had peeled off and numerous parts, some even “home-made”, were not from the original vehicle equipment. In addition, there were many defects in the interior. Nothing is known to the present day about the history of the vehicle and the long period out of service meant that the vehicle was clearly suffering from the ravages of time. The remains of bird’s nests were even found in the underbody.

Fans and enthusiasts were able to follow the transformation of the classic vehicle into a collector’s item from close up. “We regularly reported about the progress of the full restoration on our website, supplemented with numerous pictures and film material of the individual work steps,” says Barbara Böckenhoff, who is responsible for project coordination at Porsche Classic. PCA members also received updates through the club’s online newsletter. In this way, Porsche Classic was able to demonstrate its outstanding expertise and its ideal factory restoration facilities to customers in the USA in particular – with more than 100,000 members, the PCA is the largest Porsche Club in the world. In the Porsche Classic workshop close to Stuttgart, work is carried out only with original tools, original parts (or parts reproduced on the basis of original drawings) and using original data and dimensions. Alexander Fabig, Head of Porsche Classic: “Every year we service and restore around 250 Porsche classic cars from all over the world, from the 356 through to the last air-cooled 911 model, the Type 993.”

Work on the 911 T took just under a year, from complete disassembly through to complete transformation. Right down to the very last screw, there was no part that did not pass through the hands of the experts at Porsche Classic to be checked, refurbished or replaced. For the extensive body work, the mechanics used either original parts or parts reproduced on the basis of the original documentation. In contrast, the latest methods were used to treat the body for corrosion protection. Electrophoretic dip coating is a standard process in the automotive industry. It guarantees optimum priming of the bodyshell and is therefore also used during complete restoration of vehicles at Porsche Classic. The experts at Porsche Classic have also moved with the times in terms of paints and therefore use only water-based multiple-coat paints for environmental reasons. As part of final acceptance, the vehicle was also subjected to stringent function and performance tests, using methods from current production in some cases.

The 911 T Coupe now shines again in its former glory and exudes the sporty charm of the 70s. Whether it is too valuable to move or too beautiful to be admired only standing still is something that the new owner must decide. The chances are that the temptation to drive the 911 T will just be too great.

Public Relations and Media
Product Press
Eckhard Eybl
Phone: +49 (0) 711 / 911 25260
E-Mail: Eckhard.Eybl@porsche.de

New For Race Industry Week: Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax

2011-07-07T05:06:00.000-07:00

New For Race Industry Week: Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax
Stars from NASCAR, IndyCar, ALMS, NHRA and more are coming to Orlando for one of the most unique races on the annual motorsports calendar: the Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax.

One of the most exciting events of Race Industry Week 2011 will take place this year outside the exhibit hall of the giant Performance Racing Industry Trade Show—the world’s largest racing trade show. 

Red Bull brings new energy to karting at PRI with a competition that will include stars from NASCAR, IndyCar, ALMS, Grand-Am, NHRA and other racing series and will compete in one of the most unique and star-studded races on the annual motorsport calendar: Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax.  

The popular karting race takes place Thursday night, December 1, 2011, in Orlando, Florida. The race course is a tight, technical, purpose-built race track adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center, housing the 700,000 square feet PRI Trade Show. Over 40,000 racing business people from 65 countries arrive in Orlando each December for the PRI Trade Show to view the latest advances in racing technology by 1,100 racing companies. 

Past competitors include Indy 500 winners Dan Wheldon and Buddy Rice, Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray, current Indy 500 winner as a team owner Bryan Herta, 2011 Indy 500 pole position winner Alex Tagliani, NHRA Funny Car star Ron Capps, Top Fuel star Antron Brown and F1 star Vitantonio Luizzi. 

Young racing stars of tomorrow have competed in the Karters division, including Josef Newgarden, Conor Daly and Joel Miller, now in Indy Lights; Michael Lewis, now in Formula 3 Italia; and Gary Carlton, now a factory pilot in Europe for Zanardi Kart. 

“Red Bull is one of the top consumer brands active worldwide in race sponsorship, and we’re very happy to have them take such a strong interest in this event, and the sport of karting,” said Steve Lewis, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “Race fans everywhere are appreciative of Red Bull for its sponsorship investment in racing at all levels of this great sport, from F1 to NASCAR, World of Outlaws to off-road racing. To have Red Bull as a partner truly elevates the stature of this great karting event.”  

Red Bull Kart Fight qualifiers will be activated at 10 kart tracks in the southeastern United States, where drivers will be able to set a lap time and compete for a spot in one of the night’s races at the big show.

 "I always loved karting growing up," said Red Bull Athlete Cole Whitt. "I first got interested in racing because one of my cousins was racing karts at the time and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I started racing karts and it’s what really catapulted my career. It's nice to be able to look back and appreciate where you came from. I'm really excited to be a part of Red Bull Kart Fight and give back to the karting community." 

The Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax race will be televised later in the year. 

Lewis also noted that another important new development for this year’s kart race at the PRI Trade Show is the addition of Rotax as a presenting sponsor. Rotax is the leading supplier worldwide of kart racing engines with a multi-configurational platform that covers racers from ages 6 to 65.  “Rotax is the single biggest brand name in kart racing worldwide,” said Lewis. “The sport of karting continues to grow, and Rotax is a major factor in making it easier and more fun to go kart racing around the world, therefore expanding the karting market for the industry as whole.” 

Garry Lobaugh, Director of the Maxspeed Group (North American distributor of Rotax) commented, “This event is a great opportunity for us to showcase how the Rotax program works and rewards a level playing field. Rotax is the fastest growing segment of the karting market and creating the equal-engine formula for this event, with a sealed engine, putting the emphasis on driver and chassis, will no doubt showcase that fact.” 

 The distribution and service network for Rotax kart products covers more than 50 countries on five continents, and over 100 dealer/service centers in the U.S. alone. All authorized service centers are technically trained and licensed to be able to provide the best support for service and repairs for all Rotax kart products. Local racers are able to compete at their home tracks and work toward a single year end championship event to find a "true" U.S. champion. Individuals are then featured to a final world event competing against 60 other countries drivers to crown a true international champion." 

Maximilian Siegl of BRP-Rotax commented, “The ROTAX MAX community is by far the biggest kart racing series in the world, with 70,000 MAX Members as of today.” 

Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax race also is being co-sanctioned by the nation’s two largest kart racing organizations: WKA and IKF. It is the only kart race to have this sort of unification of the karting segment of the racing industry. 

“We feel this event is great for the karting industry. It has always been a huge fan favorite and we believe the race will enhance the entire PRI Show in Orlando,” said Buddy Long, General Manager of WKA. 

 Bill Hilger, President of the IKF commented, “The IKF has utilized the PRI Show for several years as a marketing venue to connect with manufacturers, tracks, sphttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifonsors, and competitors. Karting has been the starting point for almost every auto racing superstar. We think having the karting event at PRI is very important to showcase the sport in front of the national motorsports industry and IKF is excited to be a partner in this effort. We look forward to working hard to help deliver this first-class event.” 

More details, including announcements of this year’s participants in the Red Bull Kart Fight at PRI, Powered by Rotax race, will be unveiled on the PRI website. 

For more information, contact Jeff Swoboda at jeffs@performanceracing.com or 949/499-5413.
http://www.performanceracing.com/news/new-race-industry-week-red-bull-kart-fight-pri-powered-rotax

Veron Vs. GTR

2011-06-09T11:41:00.001-07:00

OK so this looks fun. Put a Bugatti Veron against Godzilla and you would be 100% sure who the victor would be in a 1 mile sprint, right? Just watch.....

Mind Blowing Isn't It?!?!

New ZR1 Laps "The Ring"

2011-06-09T11:09:00.001-07:00

The new Corvette ZR1 has stepped up its game with new tires and a better chassis. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires help shave 7 seconds off its old time in 2008 around the Nurburgring, the new lap time is only 1 second behind the beast Porsche 911 GT2. 7.19.63 is the lap time of the supercharged monster. And one of my favorite parts and what impressed me the most was how well the car took the carousels. Plus 183mph in the straight isn't bad either.
This is a Great video!

2014 Acura NSX Is What We Have Been Waiting For

2011-05-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

Back in 91' the luxury brand, Acura, came out with a high performance car to compete with the Ferrari 348. Acura has finally realized the market for a sports car has not dropped off and have been trying to bring the NSX out of the grave since 2005. They tried to make a front engine V10 a couple years ago but in my opinion, was not a NSX by any means. It did do the Nurburgring back in 2008 with a decent time, yet was still out engineered by Ferrari and Lamborghini, and Godzilla.

So now Takanobu, Honda's President, has decided to go with the formal 3.5L V6 pushing 400hp and get this, they want to incorporate electric motors as well to help push the hp up to 450 with a 0-60 time under 3.8 sec. The engine is said to also be suited with a supercharger to get that V6 up to speed. A 2.5L engine may also be available for a better price tag. Carbon fiber panels will be in places you expect along with a sleek interior and state of the art gauges and electronics.

Honda says it will share the Accord platform but in reverse. This will be very cost effective and stilll be able to use the proven SH-AWD to be based around the rear wheels. This is the NSX we have been waiting for!

It will come out as early as spring 2014 and cost around $150,000 which is speaking to the right market. Acura was trying to do something different with the front engine V10 pictured below putting out 500hp but they shouldn't have called it a NSX. It would have been better suited with a RSX badge or something....dont you think?

*thanks motortrend and worldcarfans for the pics

2012 New Beetle Styles Out the Competition

2011-04-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

The new VW Beetle is a Beetle to remember. The stylish body is what the New Beetle should have looked like, but I don't think the public would have been ready....until now.
This 2012 model so so much sportier, bigger, and faster than ever before. Packing a 2.0Turbo engine spinning the wheels with 200hp and just under 210tq, you still get great gas mileage at 30mpgs! You can also get the 2.5litre engine and a TDI engine but you won't have as much fun in it.
New colors are coming, a Panoramic Sunroof that blocks 99% of bad sun rays, iPod hook up, more cargo room, a Design Trim and a Sport Trim.

F-12 M6 Coupe and Convertible Spied

2011-04-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

BMW is in the season to update all of their models. In a week or two the F10 M5 will be debuted at the Shangai Auto Show, there is a stylish M3 sedan coming out, and now there are spy shots of the new F12 M6 in the coupe and convertible editions.

But there is an issue with me on these new M's. They all have the same engine, it is a V8 twin turbo pushing over 500hp with better gas mileage than the earlier models. HAHA, that sounds great, but you go and buy the new M5 for $100,000 and it has the same engine as the X6M, X5M, the M3 and M6....its just not that special anymore to have an different BMW than your neighbor. What happened to great engineering?
Many BMW owners have been switching to other manufactures like Porsche because they still make naturally aspirated powerhouses and staying true is why people are switching. Even Mercedes drove away from the superchargers and I haven't been more impressed with their cars.
None the less, this new M6 looks great under all that camouflage and probably even better with the top down and your trophy wife driving. No hot wife should get an M3, put her in this new M6. That is taste.

5-Series Comes With Style And Flow

2011-04-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

Learn where the ideas, style and comfort come from in BMW 5 Series